If one were to make the case that Jack is a better leader than Ralph, it would be easy to point to his ability to manipulate the boys as an example of him being more effective. Ralph is eager to be rescued and believes that the boys will want the same thing. What he fails to understand is that they are still boys, most of them younger than him. They are not interested in working systematically to be rescued, they still want to play and maintain some of the innocence and fun of their childhood. Then the fear of the beast is introduced and they need a way to deal with that fear.
Jack understands this, at least on some level. So he gives the boys a way to alleviate that fear and have fun at the same time. Of course he is also not afraid to use force to discipline them or to take what he needs from Ralph and Piggy.
It is this combination of a clearer understanding of the other boys and his ruthlessness that allows Jack to take over the island by the end of the novel.
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